Sunbeam tiger ROTA

[Stuart Jack]

Could anyone who may have worked or possibly know what the word ROTA stood for on the Sunbeam Tiger 1965- 70 which was sent to Jensen from Roots at Ryton Coventry.
This was on a card which was on all the Tigers that went to Jensen.
I am asking for a fellow classic car collector who has superb Sunbeam Tiger and hopes to add this information to his vehicle's history.

[VFK44]

In late August 1964 some two months into
production the Jensen ‘ledgers’ record a new
batch order numbering system (Rota) as a result
of a Rootes Order for 15 “GT” Tigers.

This is from the Sunbeam Tiger website, and does not explain what the letters stand for.

[Graham V]

I like to think ROTA = Rootes Order Tiger Assembly. However, the little evidence there is points to ROTA being the "Rootes Ltd Order Number". It conveyed assembly orders /build instructions to Jensens.
An example can be seen behind the screens of the Tigers in the assembly line photograph taken by Bob May, a contract photographer with the Birmingham Post and published on 27th May 1966 in that paper.
By blowing up the image the Rota numbers can be seen (just) chalked on the windscreens. #2136 /#2135 / #2136. These were what the fitters worked with. The 3rd Tiger survives in Oregon, USA.
The ROTAs went back to Ryton with 'their' Tiger and were retained in 'Warranty' files for 7 years before being pulped. While something approaching 60% of production survives, no ROTA has!!

In the image here the ROTA number #2136 can be seen on the windscreen.
Graham Vickery
Editor
Sunbeam Tiger Owners Club